The drought ends, and strays appear

Well, yes, rain, lots of it, finally. A bit too much occasionally. The gutter and the back of the house was leaking and water then flowed through the chicken shed/log store, but not into the kitchen, so the concrete work paid off. I think I've got the gutter situation under control, at least temporarily!

Other Great Works included getting Steve trenching the garden bed in front of the barn and moving the plants further out from the wall. There had been a slight damp problem due to the bed having been raised  and irrigation put in. We also rendered the bottom of the wall in the old goat shed and the entire back wall in the hopeof keeping the worst of the flooding outside

Problem solved! 

Meanwhile Sylvi and Ness were civilising the soft fruit side garden bed with paving. It'll hopefully solve the spreading weed problem and make berry picking rather nicer. Me? I was mixing cement for all this!

Amidst all the work and general faffing about we took a day off to go to the beach at Mira. The dogs, of course were overjoyed.

 While we were there the local fishermen brought in a net, using the modern version of oxen. It wasn't an enormous catch but there was still a sad quantity of baby Mackerel, Bass and general by-catch, including some rather large Jellyfish.

As for Strays....

Well we're still feeding Duder, the little stray who was originally Scraps suitor when she was a puppy. Sneaking worming tablets into his food every three months and an application of frontline to his back have made him a rather healthier little chap - still skinny but not skeletal anyway!

We now have another stray in our patch as well. Rather like a much older version of Bugsy. So we put food out for him too. He's terribly shy of humans, very keen to make friends with Bugs, but if he thinks a human is getting too close he disappears. We think he is on his last legs as recently seen limping badly with an ulcerated front left paw and just looking miserable. He looked so scared but we just couldn't convince him to come with us or let us get close. Heartbreaking.

This chap showed up today and tried to make friends with Bugs who wasn't quite sure; the new stranger, who I have seen before out the other side of the village, being a bit big, though seemingly good natured. The old black dog still comes down to say hi now and then and an odd short-arse red dog also comes down to play...Scrappy just disapproves of strangers full stop if they're bigger and male, but she's OK with the little red fellah.

Getting to be Dog Central Social Club around here. 

Sylv here...back from the UK where I spent a great long weekend with friends from college in a converted barn just outside Woodbridge. So good to meet up with everyone..a great time had by all. Lots of outings and drinking and eating and music making!

Jammin'

At the pub

Malc and I making fry-ups for breakfast

Down at the estuary

 The following week was spent looking after Lexa since she was off for half term but Mum wasn't. We had a lovely time getting very messy doing stuff like baking and drawing and building lego etc. Lots of walks and shopping and hugs and special Granny time.

Loving the Lego

With the birdfeeder made by Grandpa!

Our adventure map. Granny and Lexa on the right

She is not afraid of Henry the Hoover now that we did the cleaning together and she has been introduced to plaits!

All ready for the kid's Halloween party!

Flew back early yesterday morning amid gales and rain and had to get to Gatwick by cab because no trains were running. Luckily Easyjet wasn't phased and flights weren't cancelled.

Nex trip to UK will be for Christmas and we are both going!!!!